Author: Michael Deegan

U.S. Assistance in the Western Balkans

U.S. Assistance in the Western Balkans

Posted by | Aug 30, 2017 | , , , |

Photo: Trish Hartmann (CC) Crook Fellow Michael Deegan analyzes current U.S. policy regarding the Western Balkans through insights gained during his time at the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia: Earlier this month, U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence paid a visit to the coastal country of Montenegro to address the Adriatic Summit, a meeting of leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. The visit served as an opportunity for Pence to reassure Western Balkan countries that the United States remains focused on the region and is concerned by growing Russian...

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Parsing the Dept. of State’s Security Clearance Process

Parsing the Dept. of State’s Security Clearance Process

Posted by | Jul 16, 2017 | , , |

Photo: (cc) Shashi Bellamkonda Social Media Swami Network Solutions Crook Fellow Michael Deegan is based this summer in the Office of the Coordinator of Assistance to Europe and Eurasia with the State Department in Washington D.C., and shares his experiences and advice on the State Dept.’s security clearance process: I couldn’t believe it. After all but giving up and starting a last-minute alternative internship search, interviewing, and deciding between several offers, an email appeared in my inbox last week: “You have been granted your security clearance to work at the Department of State this summer.” The security clearance process is integral to doing an internship...

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